The government has confirmed 102 cases of highly
pathogenic avian influenza h5n1
in England There were also 2 cases of avian influenza in Wales where a small area of the
disease control zones
around the premises extended into England. One of these zones is still in place and one has been revoked.
Does the
current bird flu
affect humans?
Although avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses usually do not infect people, there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses Illness in humans from bird flu virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.
Is there any bird flu now?
The
current risk
to the General Public is Low Right now, the H5N1 bird flu situation remains primarily an animal health issue.
Is bird flu still around 2022?
Learn about 2022 detections of HPAI in Commercial and Backyard Flocks. Wild birds can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating, potentially exposing
domestic poultry
to the virus.
Can you eat eggs from chickens with avian flu?
All poultry products for public consumption are inspected for signs of disease both before and after slaughter. The “inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture” seal ensures the poultry is free from visible signs of disease. prepared and cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat.
Can you get bird flu from eating chicken?
You cannot get bird flu from eating fully cooked chicken , turkey, or duck, because heat kills the virus. In a few cases, bird flu was passed from one person to another person, not from a bird to a person. But this was very rare.
Is bird flu an airborne disease?
Airborne transmission of bird flu from wild birds to poultry is negligible , says new research. New research from Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) has demonstrated that the risk of airborne transmission of the hi-path avian influenza virus from infected wild waterfowl to poultry is negligible.
Should I be worried about bird flu?
The current risk to the general public from bird flu viruses is low ; however, it is important to remember that risk depends on exposure, and people with more exposure might have a greater risk of infection.
How did bird flu end?
nothing happened The virus continued to kill chickens and to occasionally infect and sometimes kill people. But as the years passed, the number of human H5N1 cases subsided. There has not been a single H5N1 human infection detected since February 2017.
Is there a vaccine for H5N1 virus?
Influenza A (H5N1) vaccine is used for active immunization to prevent disease caused by the influenza A virus H5N1 subtype in patients over 6 months of age at increased risk of exposure. Influenza A (H5N1) vaccine is available under the following different brand names: Audenz.
Should I take my bird feeder down?
There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry , according to the National Wildlife Disease Program.
Can chickens be let out now 2022 UK?
The mandatory housing measures which were in place across the UK since 29 November 2021 were lifted on Monday 2 May 2022. Poultry and other captive birds no longer need to be housed, unless they are in a Protection Zone Read more about this: Avian influenza housing measures lifted on 2 May.
How long does bird flu live on surfaces?
On the eve of the 2010-11 influenza flu season, scientists and engineers have identified the environmental conditions and surfaces that could enable a highly pathogenic (H5N1) bird flu virus to survive for prolonged periods of time — at least two weeks and up to two months.
Is avian flu a coronavirus?
Abstract. Avian influenza A (H5N1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus are infections that cause a severe viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory dysfunction syndrome and carry a high case-fatality rate.
Can you get bird flu from bird poop?
Avian influenza, also called bird flu, is caused by a virus that infects birds such as chickens, turkeys, geese, pigeons, and pheasants. The virus is found in an infected bird’s poop as well as fluids from the bird’s eyes, nose, or mouth. Touch their eyes, nose or mouth after working with infected live or dead birds.
Where has avian flu been found 2022?
The first 2021/2022 detection of Eurasian strain (EA) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
How is bird flu transmitted?
Bird flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird (dead or alive) This includes: touching infected birds. touching droppings or bedding.
Can humans catch H5N1?
Infected birds shed H5N1 viruses in their saliva, mucous and feces. H5N1 virus infections among people are rare; however, human infections can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled.
What is the death rate of bird flu?
An especially notorious strain is the HPAI influenza virus H5N1, which has a mortality rate of approximately 60% and which has resulted in numerous hospitalizations, deaths, and significant economic loss.
Was there a pandemic in 2005?
The global spread of (highly pathogenic) H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat While prior H5N1 strains have been known, they were significantly different from the current H5N1 strain on a genetic level, making the global spread of this new strain unprecedented.
What happens if you eat a bird that has bird flu?
On present evidence, humans who have acquired the infection have been in direct contact with infected live or dead birds. There is no epidemiological evidence to date that avian influenza can be transmitted to humans through consumption of food, notably poultry and eggs.
Is it safe to buy chicken?
Whatever bird you buy, one slipup and you’re at risk Most important is to cook chicken to at least 165° F. Even if it’s no longer pink, it can still harbor bacteria, so use a meat thermometer. The Polder THM-360, $30, and Taylor Weekend Warrior 806, $16, were excellent in our tests.
Can you eat a goose with avian flu?
According to the federal government website, there have been no human cases of disease resulting from exposure to wild birds in North America. And while avian influenza isn’t believed to pose a risk for people, Diamond advises not to eat the meat if there are clear signs the bird is infected.
How can you tell if your chicken has bird flu?
Some of the signs for avian influenza include eating less, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, reduced egg production, lack of energy, swelling around the face, purple discoloration around the face, lack of coordination, diarrhea, muscle tremors, drooping wings, twisting of the head and neck, and inability to move.
Is it safe to eat turkey with bird flu?
Bird flu virus can be passed through bird droppings and saliva on surfaces such as cages, tractors, and other farm equipment. Most people don’t need to worry about getting sick with bird flu virus. You cannot get bird flu from eating fully cooked chicken, turkey, or duck, because heat kills the virus.
Can bird flu be cured?
You can treat symptoms of bird flu the same way you would treat seasonal flu symptoms This includes: Taking any antiviral medication as prescribed.
Is H1N1 a bird flu?
A: In the last decade we’ve really had two major circulating forms of virus that we’re particularly concerned about — that is the avian flu, or bird flu, and the swine H1N1 virus. They are both influenza A viruses, but in terms of their genetic makeup and how they behave they are very, very different infections.
Do seagulls carry bird flu?
Bird flu viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide Wild aquatic birds include waterbirds (waterfowl) such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns, and shorebirds, such as storks and plovers.
What is the incubation period for bird flu?
The incubation period is variable ( 1-7 days ), and dependent upon the AI virus strain, dose, route of exposure, and species of bird. The OIE recognizes a 14-day incubation period at the flock level for high pathogenicity avian influenza for virus spread in a bird population.
Was the bird flu a pandemic or epidemic?
Unlike most pandemics, which emerge randomly, H5N1 has been recognized as a likely pandemic candidate for almost 10 years. Experts from the World Health Organization consider the current pandemic alert level to be stage 3.
Is swine flu still around?
In 2009, H1N1 was spreading fast around the world, so the World Health Organization called it a pandemic. Since then, people have continued to get sick from swine flu, but not as many While swine flu isn’t as scary as it seemed a few years ago, it’s still important to protect yourself from getting it.
What disinfectant kills avian flu?
Chlorine bleach solutions, household ammonia, iodine-containing solutions, and dilute acids are a good way to kill the viruses.
What is H5N1 stand for?
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1) HPAIV A(H5N1) is highly infectious for a number of bird species, including most species of domestic poultry [1].
What happened to the bird flu vaccine?
While avian flu vaccines are currently available , they are not being used on a large scale on poultry farms because this hinders the ability to conduct surveillance testing, which helps detect the virus in unvaccinated flocks and limit the spread of the disease.
Sources
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/britain-suffers-largest-ever-bird-flu-outbreak-minister-2021-12-09/
https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioLeicester/photos/a.165421811970/10155756640151971/?type=3
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu-cases-and-disease-control-zones-in-england
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm